Farm-fence



T. G. BEEGHER, OF BEAVER DAM, NEW YORK.

FARM-FENCE.

Specification of Letters 'Patent No.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, T. G. BEECHER, of Beaver Dam, in the county of Schuyler and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Mode of Constructing Farm- Fences; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, in which- Figure l is a view in elevation. Fig. 2 is a view of one of the piers, the rails and earth being represented in section. Figs. 3 and 4L represent the method of inserting and locking the rails within the posts or piers, so that they may be conveniently removed to form a passage way, and for other purposes as hereinafter explained.

Similar letters refer to corresponding parts in all the figures.

My fence, which I denominate the Yankee composite fence, is designed for permanency, and is adapted to those farming districts where stones exist upon the ground in such abundance as to render their removal desirable. In such localities, and they are numerous throughout our country, the principal material used is supplied at the mere cost of the labor which is necessarily incurred in removing them from the soil, while the reduced amount of timber required for rails, and the durability of the fence renders it cheap beyond comparison.

As shown in the drawings A A, represent the piers or posts, B the rails, and C the earth.

My method of construction is as follows: Having provided upon the ground a suitable number of rails, which may consist of common split rails, round poles, or saplings, or, for a better quality of fence, of sawed scantling, I mark the localities for the posts along the line where the fence is to be erected, according to the length of the rails, which should be of the ordinary length used for other kinds of fence. The stones as they are gathered from the field are drawn to the spot and as they are unloaded are laid up in rough mason work without mortar, be ginning at the surface of the ground with a pier which may be at the base from two to three feet, or thereabout, in diameter, and diminishing to about two or less at the top.

If the material is abundant the piers may be 25,944, dated November 1, 1859.

larger, but if not a smaller size will answer. The laying requires but slight mechanical skill, as the stones .are used without dressing and the only care necessary is to break the joints of the outer corners. At the height of about eighteen inches the lower rail is laid in and the stone wall is built around its ends. The others are added at suitable distances apart. The piers should be finished by placing a large flat stone at the top to prevent the water from having ready ingress, but if the stones are not present of sufficient size for this purpose two or three of the largest may be used together and so arranged as to afford good protection. Previous to the fence being laid up, the ground is prepared by plowing a ditch, D D, upon either side and with a scraper throwing the dirt in a bank, E, in the center directly under the rails. This has the three fold effect of protecting the foundation of the posts from the injurious effects of frost, of saving the expense of one rail, so that a four rail fence is of equal height with a five railed one of ordinary construction, and of making it a better safeguard against breachy cattle, as the ditch makes it diiiicult for them either to jump the fence or break it down, while the firm anchorage of the piers makes it stronger than any fence built of rails alone.

For the purpose of renewing the rails, (which will not last nearly so long as the stone piers or posts,) by removing them and replacing with new rails and the convenience of making bars7 for opening a passage way for teams through the fence the rails are notched at their ends in such a manner that by lapping the projection c of one lies in the notch f of the other. By scoring away a portion of each, on the side, as shown at g, g, the turning of one will release it so that it can readily be drawn out and removed, and as easily replaced, and when in its proper position is safely secured again. The scoring and notching may be done by the most unskilful person with no other tool than an ax or saw. Indeed no part of the construction of this fence requires mechanical skill, and thus it is of beneficial application to all farmers, and especially those of limited means or removed from the conveniences of advanced civilization.

This method secures many important advantages, among which the very small Therefore I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

My improved method of construction, as shown, namely, combining with the posts A, arranged as described, the rails B, made removable and replaceable by means of the locking device e, f, g, substantially as herein specified.

T. G. BEECHER. Witnesses:

JAMES GULIGK, JAMES E. MCLUSKEY. 

